Calm before the Catalan storm

Spain

“Did you or did you not declare independence?” Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy asked Catalan regional President Carles Puigdemont. The standoff between the two leaders is the focus of most Spanish papers today. In a statement Wednesday, Rajoy threatened to trigger Article 155, a constitutional mechanism by which Madrid can use all measures necessary to compel a region to meet its obligations to the central government, including suspending the regional government and imposing direct rule. El País reported that Rajoy’s conservative Popular Party and the Socialists collectively gave the Catalan government an ultimatum: Clarify your stance within the next eight days or the government will intervene. Or, as ABC, put it: “Reverse or 155.”

In the Catalan press, Ara led with: “Article 155 COUNTDOWN.” La Vanguardia: “Rajoy announces 155, but gives time to Puigdemont.”

France

Le Monde also led with Catalonia, noting the previous day’s suspended declaration of independence. “Catalonia: Independence in suspense,” it wrote. Right-leaning Le Figaro led with a story on Les Républicains’ leadership elections, which would hopefully “wake up the right,” the paper said. Libération’s front page focused on disgraced movie producer Harvey Weinstein with the title: “Hollywood perverted.”

UK

The Daily Mail reported on supposed tensions between Prime Minister Theresa May and Chancellor Philip Hammond over the money needed for various departments if the U.K. leaves the EU without a trade deal. In an opinion piece Wednesday, Hammond insisted budgeting for a “no deal” scenario at this stage of talks would be irresponsible. The prime minister said: “Where money needs to be spent, it will be spent.” The Guardian led with an IMF report suggesting the rich get taxed more. The Times reported that U.S. President Trump’s expected state visit to the U.K. will be “downgraded,” but he is still expected to meet the queen.

Germany

Frankfurter Allgemeine led with: “Madrid prepares to take over control in Catalonia.” Die Welt also reported on Catalonia, with the headline: “The calm before the storm.” Süddeutsche Zeitung noted 70,000 Iraqis and Syrians are waiting to join their families in Germany, half as many as the interior ministry expected.

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Vishnou

Difficult to imagine that nobody knew about Harvey Weinstein’s behaviour before today. So everybody shut up for many, many years, including his preys because everyone had an interest in avoiding the scandal to be known. This is how power supersedes morality. Disgusting. Such deviances cannot be cured: they are an integral of the raper’s personality. He probably doesn’t perceive his sexual assaults as faults but as a contribution to his victims’ hunger for success. He just grabbed the opportunity to impose his so-called silly power on women who remained silent in exchange for boosting their careers. What a “wonderful world”…